Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson described his team as “not sharp tonight” following a 119-98 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday. “The third quarter is what got away from us…we had a lot of holes in schematic coverage, game plan, execution tonight in all facets,” he said.
Johnson highlighted early defensive breakdowns, particularly against Victor Wembanyama. “They were attacking Vic whenever he was guarding kind of up on the weak side…we were out of place a lot,” he noted, stressing the need to review film and identify consistent issues.
The coach acknowledged the game as a learning moment rather than a defining moment. “It’s January in the NBA…these games will help us and these games will be learning experiences,” Johnson said, emphasizing mental, physical, and emotional growth.
Johnson praised Wembanyama’s composure under hostile conditions. “There’s so much narrative around Victor…he embraces all of it appropriately without putting too much energy or overdoing it,” he said, adding that the young star “held up good…finished the game, played almost 28 minutes.”
The coach also discussed the performance of Stephon Castle. “It’s good to see Steph five for nine, two for five from three, five assists, five rebounds…he’s at his best when he’s instinctual and playing aggressive,” Johnson said.
Johnson defended De’Aaron Fox’s effort, noting league-wide fatigue. “Everybody right now is mentally, emotionally, or physically fatigued…De’Aaron is playing as hard as I’ve ever seen him on both sides of the floor,” he said, citing his pace, defensive pressure, and overall energy.
The Spurs’ approach to shot selection was also addressed. “Every possession and every shot we take is our shot…when the ball finds the right guy and he’s open, he should shoot it. Simple as that,” Johnson explained, emphasizing shot expectation and team spacing.
Oklahoma City controlled the game with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 34 points and extending his streak to 111 consecutive games with at least 20 points. Jalen Williams added 20 points, while Chet Holmgren anchored the paint with eight points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks.
San Antonio stayed competitive in the first half, trailing 55-52 at the break, but fell behind decisively in the third quarter as Oklahoma City extended the lead to 95-76 entering the fourth. The loss dropped the Spurs to 27-13, their sixth defeat in the last 10 games.
Johnson concluded with a focus on learning and resilience. “We got to keep showing up to work…maximize the learning moments from these games…this thing doesn’t stop,” he said.
